TIRE LIQUEFYING PROCESS REACTOR DISCHARGE SYSTEM AND METHOD

Abstract: A discharge system is used with a tire liquefaction process using a reactor (4). The system includes a receiver (8) receiving unreacted components, including oil coated metal, from the reactor (4). The unreacted components are moved through a pyrolysis reactor (38) where they are heated to a temperature sufficient to convert the unreacted hydrocarbon components to a liquid and to gas by way of pyrolysis. The liquid and the majority of gas are drawn off from the pyrolysis reactor (38). Discharge apparatus (45) connected to the pyrolysis reactor (38) converts the remaining gas to a condensate and discharges the metal. The condensate is also removed for further use.

Description: TIRE LIQUEFYING PROCESS REACTOR DISCHARGE SYSTEM AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to means and methods for discharging unreacted components from a reaction process and, more particularly, to discharge unreacted components from a tire liquefying process. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A discharge system is used with a tire liquefying process using a reactor. The system includes a receiver receiving unreacted components, including oil coated metal, from the reactor. The unreacted components are moved through a pyrolysis reactor where they are heated to a temperature sufficient to convert the unreacted hydrocarbon components to a liquid and to gas by way of pyrolysis. The liquid and the majority of gas are drawn off from the pyrolysis reactor. Discharge apparatus co ' nnected to the pyrolysis reactor converts the remaining gas to a condensate and discharges the metal. The condensate is also removed for further use. The object and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of the detailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanying drawing, wherein one embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for illustration purposes only and is not to be construed as defining the limits of the invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The Figure is a graphical representation of a discharge system constructed in accordance with the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawing, process reactor means 4, which may be of the type described and disclosed in a U.S.P. Application Serial No. 08/053,727, filed April 27, 1993, is used to react tires and liquid oil, generally in the form of waste oil, to convert most hydrocarbon components of the tires to tire oil. However, in the process, there are unreacted components. Many of the shredded tires, if not all of the shredded tires, will have pieces of metal in them, either from the steel belt, in the steel belted radial-type tires, or from the beading around the edge of the tires. Further, there will also be other unreacted hydrocarbon components. The unreacted components are discharged from process reactor means 4 through a discharge system of the present invention which includes a downward chute-type element 8 connected to a predominantly horizontally arranged conduit element 12. Although the terminology predominantly horizontal has been used, its only used to describe conduit element 12 in spatial relationship to element 8 and other chute-type elements to follow. It is in fact, at a slight angle upward commencing from chute 8, sufficient to let a liquid flow down conduit element 12. A screw auger 20 having a shaft 24 and a spiral-type blade 28 is continually rotated by drive means 33. Surrounding a portion of conduit element 12 is a pyrolysis reactor 38. Pyrolysis reactor 38 is actually a plurality of electrical surface heaters manufactured by Watlow Inc. mounted on the outer surface of conduit element 12. The output of coils 50 is wrapped around a non-vented portion of chute 45 and carry a cooling liquid such as water as hereinafter explained. Chute 45 is vented with flared vents 49 at various locations and surrounding the venting portion of chute 45 is a chamber 53. Chamber 53 has a pipe 57 connected to tank means 61. Tank means 61 has a discharge pipe 64 including a valve 66. Similarly, as noted earlier, the conduit element 12 5 is at one angle of inclination; the bottom of chute 8 is at different angle of inclination so that any fluid as hereinafter explained is directed towards a opening having a screen 70 covering the inlet to a pipe 74. Pipe 74 is connected to another tank means 78 whose outlet pipe 80 includes a valve 84. 10 Further conduit element 12 has an outlet pipe 86 which causes the majority of the gas to be removed from conduit element 12 and provided to a condensor/collector not shown. In operation as the unreacted components of the shredded tires fall from process reactor means 4 through chute 15 8, where they are moved by screw auger 20 through conduit element 12 in a slightly ' upward direction towards chute 45. In this process, the oil/metal mixture is heated by pyrolysis reactor 38 to a temperature in a temperature range of 900°F to 1500°F. The unreacted hydrocarbon components are pyrolyzed 20 into a liquid and gas. The liquid drains down conduit element 12 towards drain 70 and passes through pipe 74 into tank means 78. As noted, the majority of the gas leaves via pipe 86, however, the remaining gas and the metal components keep moving upward towards chute 45. Gas accumulates in chute 45 with some 25 of it coming in contact with cool walls of chute 45. Coils 50 are provided with a cooling liquid, which may be water or any other type of liquid desired, causing a cool area on the surface of chute 45 thereby causing condensing of the gas entering chute 45 to form condensate on cooled walls '30 46 in that area. The condensate flows down walls 46 and drains off at the various vents 49. As the condensate flows on the surface of vent 49, the flare-up causes the condensate to drip. A thermal syphon effect exists in the cooling position of chute 45 thereby facilitating the condensation of the gas on walls 46. The liquid in chamber 53 passes through line 57 and into tank means 61. Meanwhile, the metal components in chute 45 emerge from chute 45 cleaned, dried and ready for recycling.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A discharge system for a tire liquefying process reacting tires and oil using a reactor, comprising: receiving means for receiving unreacted components of the tires from the reactor, said unreacted components include hydrocarbon and metal components; moving means connected to the receiving means for moving the unreacted components through a heated * ar : ■ ; pyrolysis means for heating an area of the system to a temperature sufficient to convert the unreacted hydrocarbon components to a liquid and to a gas by way of pyrolysis; means for drawing off the liquid and most of the gas from the pyrolysis means; converter means for converting the remaining gas to a condensate; and discharge means connected to the pyrolysis means for discharging the metal components and drawing off the condensate. 2. A system as described in Claim 1 in which the receiving means includes: first vertical conduit means for allowing the unreacted components to pass through; the moving means includes: a conduit, a portion of which is at a slight angle to the horizon sufficient to allow fluid to flow due to gravity, said conduit being connected to said first vertical conduit means, and auger screw means for moving the unreacted components from the receiving means to the discharge means; and the discharge means includes second vertical conduit means, connected to the conduit, for passing the metal components from the moving means so as to discharge the metal components from the system. 3. A system as described in Claim 2 further comprising first removal means for removing a majority of the gas from the conduit. 4. A system as described in Claim 3 in which the converter means includes: cooling means for cooling the gas that has entered the converter means from the pyrolysis means to form a condensate, and second removal means for removing the condensate. 5. A system as described in Claim 4 in which the cooling means includes a cooling jacket of tubing wrapped around a portion of the second vertical conduit means so as to create a cool surface on that portion of the second vertical conduit means for the gas to condense on; and the second removal means includes flared vent means, located in a portion of the second vertical conduit means, for removing the condensate from the second vertical conduit. 6. A system as described in Claim 5 in which the the second removal means further includes: enclosure means surrounding that portion of the second vertical conduit means that is vented by the vent means for gathering the condensate that has passed through the vent means, and accumulating means connected to the enclosure means for accumulating the condensate that has passes through the vent means. 7. A system as described in Claim 6 further comprising liquid removal means connected to the conduit for removing the liquid resulting from the pyrolysis of the unreacted hydrocarbon components. 8. A system as described in Claim 7 in which the pyrolysis means includes heater means, located on the outside of the conduit means and covering a perimeter portion of the conduit, for creating heat in the area of the heater means within the conduit so as to pyrolysis the unreacted hydrocarbon components passing through the heated area. 9. A discharge method associated with a tire liquefying process using a reactor, comprising the steps of: receiving unreacted components of the tires from the reactor, said unreacted components include hydrocarbon components and metal components; moving the unreacted components; heating the moving unreacted hydrocarbon components to a temperature sufficient to convert the unreacted hydrocarbon components to a liquid and to a gas by way of pyrolysis; drawing off the liquid; drawing off a majority of the gas; converting the gas remaining to form a condensate; drawing off the condensate; and discharging the metal components. 10. A method as described in Claim 9 in which the receiving steps include using first vertical conduit means to allow the unreacted components to pass through; the moving step includes: using a conduit, a portion of which is at a slight angle to the horizon, said conduit being connected to said first vertical conduit means; and using auger screw means to move the unreacted components from the receiving means through the conduit; and the discharge step includes: using second vertical conduit means, connected to the conduit, for passing the metal components from the conduit so as to discharge the metal components. 11. A method as described in Claim 10 in which the converting step includes: cooling the remaining gas to a condensate in the second vertical conduit means. 12. A method as described in Claim 11 in which the cooling step includes using a cooling jacket of tubing, containing a cooling liquid, wrapped around a portion of the second vertical conduit, so as to create a cool surface on that portion of the second vertical conduit for the gas to condense on. 13. A method as described in Claim 12 in which the condensate drawing off step includes: venting the second vertical conduit means with flared openings in its side located below the cooling portion; and accumulating the condensate that has passed through the vented openings. 14. A method as described in Claim 13 further comprising the step of removing the liquid resulting from the pyrolysis of the unreacted components.

Inventors: AVETISIAN VAHAN, CASTAGNOLI CRAIG JOSEPH, CHA SUK-BAE, AVETISIAN, VAHAN, CASTAGNOLI, CRAIG, JOSEPH, CHA, SUK-BAE
Applicants: AVETISIAN VAHAN, CASTAGNOLI CRAIG JOSEPH, CHA SUK BAE, TEXACO DEVELOPMENT CORP, AVETISIAN, VAHAN, CASTAGNOLI, CRAIG, JOSEPH, CHA, SUK-BAE, TEXACO DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Application year: 1994
Main classification: C10B47
IPC codes: B09B3, C10B7, C10B33, C10B47, C10B53, C10G1